9/21/2016 - TimBWE Likes this wine:

To paraphrase Mark Twain, "Rumors of this wine's death have been greatly exaggerated!" To be fair, we tasted two bottles a year apart. The first was likely done years ago. The other, consumed just a few weeks ago, was a shocking treat. At this point, the Roussanne has pushed its way to the forefront with a pleasant waxy texture creating a substantial wine. But there is still lots of spicy melon fruit from the Viognier. A totally enjoyable, and remarkably alive white at 18 years of age.

8/1/2016 - TimBWE Likes this wine:

A perfect "starter Burgundy" for someone losing their interest in new world Pinot. Tannins are round, fruit is dark and sappy, but there is nice "extra gear" of length in the finish and enough acidity to keep you coming back.

8/11/2016 - TimBWE Likes this wine:

Drank with Paul195 on the hottest night of the year in NYC, but couldn't have been more enjoyable. A truly memorable bottle that others who tasted it guessed to be from the late 1980s. Silky, resolved tannins but still deep in color and possessing some gorgeous primary red fruit, mingling with dried spice and a hint of barnyard funk. Easily has 20 years left on it but it was by no means too young to be a wine of the month.

1/4/2016 - TimBWE wrote:

A lovely wine in the perfect state between primary and secondary flavors. Tannins are still quite firm, but the fresh raspberry is starting to meet a little tobacco, molasses, and mushroom. Tannins are still very present, but not rough at all. Such an underrated vintage.

1/1/2016 - TimBWE wrote:

Some serious tannins here that softened over the course of two hours. The funk of a 16 year old burgundy slowly evaporated and revealed some seriously fresh dark red fruit and a hint of licorice. 10 more years for sure. Lovely.

1/1/2016 - TimBWE wrote:

A wonderful treat. A one-hour decant revealed lots of sweet raspberry & black cherry fruit. A hint of the 2011 green-ness, but shows here more as mineral undercurrent beneath the fruit rather than . There is a "2nd gear" here that propels the mid-palate of the wine and makes it quite pleasurable, even at such a young age. Whole-cluster adds some crunchy, but not distracting tannins.

12/27/2015 - TimBWE Likes this wine:

My first experience with Roumier's Bonnes Mares. I found a very interesting note hidden within the wine that reminds me of the spicy floral notes of trousseau found in the Jura. No shortage here of the ripe, seductive Roumier fruit that drives so many people wild. Not a long life ahead of it I wouldn't think, but certainly completely enjoyable now. Thanks Paul195!

12/18/2015 - TimBWE Likes this wine:

A lovely surprise! True that the wine is on the "rustic" side of things which doesn't necessarily scream premier cru volnay, but I've been consistently happy with 1993 Cote de Beaune reds. Continued to evolve and open up over two hours.

12/17/2015 - TimBWE wrote:

Mesquite smokiness with flavors of dried black cherry and porcini mushrooms. Continued to open up across an hour, but the lightness of body suggests only a few years life left on this venerable grand cru from a controversial year. Pretty acidity and quite balanced. I'd have to agree with the reviewer just below this one. The wine was definitely medium puprpl (pron. pup-rupple)

11/6/2015 - TimBWE wrote:

Unlike the vast majority of village wines from the Cote-de-Nuits wines from 2005, this is really in a great place right now. Mature fruit turning to a hint of forest. Tannins are firm but not distracting. Amazing balance. Really impressive.

11/6/2015 - TimBWE wrote:

Really marvelous for such a "lowly" appellation. Ripe pinot flavors, augmented by caraway and smoke. A very serious wine with velvety tannins and bright, but not underripe, acidity. Would be great in five years, but more than enjoyable now. Makes me wish we got more than just one bottle for the year!